ST. LOUIS -- The Mariners were without one of their hottest hitters in Sunday’s lineup, though not entirely.
Josh Naylor was held out as a precaution with what manager Dan Wilson described as minor quad tightness, but remains available off the bench if needed.
“He’s fine, just a little quad tightness from yesterday,” Wilson said. “Good day to kind of give him a blow. And we wanted to get [Connor Joe] some at-bats, too. So it’s a good day to get him in there.”
The decision comes amid one of Naylor’s most productive stretches of the season. Over his last seven games, the first baseman is hitting .480 (12-for-25) with two doubles, four RBIs, four stolen bases and four walks, good for a 1.213 OPS.
His impact has extended well beyond the box score.
Naylor delivered game-winning hits earlier this week against the Athletics and again Friday against the Cardinals, continuing to serve as a catalyst for an offense that has begun to find its rhythm. He also went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases in Saturday’s 11-9 win.
Since joining Seattle on July 25, 2025, Naylor is a perfect 23-for-23 on stolen base attempts, bringing an aggressive edge on the basepaths that has helped shape the team’s overall identity.
While the Mariners will give him a day to reset, they’ll still have his bat available -- and given the way he’s been swinging it, that could loom large if the situation calls for it.